{"id":4261,"date":"2007-05-25T22:29:04","date_gmt":"2007-05-25T22:29:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blacktypebugler.com\/?p=4261"},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","slug":"oldbtb_1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/?p=4261","title":{"rendered":"Movieland Turf Cup(G1) attracts tuff guys Strong Belwas, Ollie’s Gone, more"},"content":{"rendered":"

California<\/STRONG>–\u00a0 Hooray for Hollywood!\u00a0\u00a0 They’re predicting the biggest weekend ever for Hollywood movies and, boy, they could make a blockbuster out of this year’s\u00a0 Grade 1 $400,000 Movieland Turf Cup(G1)<\/EM> field.\u00a0\u00a0Call it the “Magnificent Turfy Seven,” a race where any one contender can be a big star.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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And they’re so darn young!\u00a0\u00a0 Yup, all seven runners arrive here\u00a0at the tender age of four.\u00a0\u00a0Some are green with 15 starts or so, while others have been around the block, pushing the 30 start mark.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Hollywood loves\u00a0youth and we’ve fittingly got our share\u00a0of ruff-tuff bad boys going 10 mighty furlongs over the mean green………<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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And who is the strong man here?\u00a0\u00a0 <\/FONT>Strong Belwas<\/STRONG> (2\/1), that’s who.\u00a0\u00a0Given sure has this Empire Maker rolling plenty.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0The speedster just needs to load up, then sizzle out the gate.\u00a0\u00a0 No messing around from the back of the pack.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 “Gimme the lead and then I’ll show ya who’s boss.”\u00a0\u00a0 Strong Belwas was one to watch on the graded trail last season.\u00a0\u00a0 He gobbled up his share of late summertime grades and made a dent post-BB time in the Sim.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The big boy threw a pair of bridesmaid efforts in the Eclipse(G1)<\/EM> and KY Horsemen Derby(G1),<\/EM> both over 10f and both heartbreakers after setting the pace.\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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But, in hindsight, those losses were just schooling efforts.\u00a0\u00a0 They sure toughened Strong Belwas up according to his name.\u00a0 He’s 2 for 3 in 2007,\u00a0sandwiching a bridesmaid effort to Horseshoe Bay (Sand Castle Golden Turf Classic(G1)<\/EM>) in between a listed and Grade 1 stakes victories.\u00a0\u00a0 What a sensational monster capabple of rigourous speed figures.\u00a0\u00a0 The Dubai Grade 1 LTO came over 11f —\u00a0just love how he’s shortening up here.\u00a0\u00a0 He may indeed be BB Turf quality yet, but, for now, give him the mighty and magnificent 10.\u00a0\u00a0 Four weeks rest on schedule and he only has Unpredicatably T to battle for pacesetting honors.\u00a0\u00a0 Read ’em and weep.\u00a0\u00a0 Smooches, Dan!\u00a0\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42 \ud83d\ude42 \ud83d\ude42 : ):)<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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And let’s go to directly to hijacked’s Unpredictably T<\/STRONG> (5\/1).\u00a0\u00a0 He’s the veteran runner in this group with 29 starts in the bank.\u00a0\u00a0 The Western Fame\u00a0son stretches out to the mighty 10f.\u00a0\u00a0 He’s mostly a miler with the occasional 9f test.\u00a0\u00a0 Unpredictably T last run over this distance back in late 2006.\u00a0 Gosh, he really didn’t like\u00a0the extended trip either, finishing yicky-icky in both classic distance efforts.\u00a0\u00a0<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Good news is that Unpredicatbly T only has one foe to\u00a0battle for the lead.\u00a0\u00a0 If he can cruise along by Strong Belwas, they anything can happen if the favorite has an off\u00a0<\/EM>afternoon.\u00a0\u00a0 Also, ‘T has been going pretty good around nine panels of late and might be itching for some extra ground.\u00a0 He’s a nice listed miler, but perhaps this entry might be a bit of a prayer and taking advantage of the short field.\u00a0\u00a0 Maybe minor money at best for this guy who’ll probably be fading late.\u00a0\u00a0Happy B-day again, Ted!\u00a0 \u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Ollie’s Gone<\/STRONG> (3\/1) is in a similar boat.\u00a0 Rbokie stretches out the son of fabulous and popular racemare Fantastic Ollie.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0However, the Gone West colt looks like he can very well get this distance.\u00a0 He tried 9.5f early last season and finished a rallying 2nd.\u00a0\u00a0 He went on to be a dual Grade 3 winner over 9f and, indeed, held his form well with a snazzy nine panel score in the Sanders(G2)<\/EM> this year.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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I love how this colt can charge from the depths or rate somewhat in midpack.\u00a0\u00a0 A splendid versatile running style makes him one to watch.\u00a0\u00a0 At only 15 starts, Ollie’s Gone brings solid 100+ SP#s to the bank.\u00a0\u00a0 Totally agree with Rbokie putting him in this race — well spotted.\u00a0\u00a0 You better watch out Strong Belwas!\u00a0 Ollie’s Gone is\u00a0due for a starpower performance.\u00a0\u00a0 I like him a lot here, but hopefully he’s in shape on 8 weeks rest.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0High-fives, ‘Bokie!<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Irish for the surname Maloney!\u00a0\u00a0 Yeah, that’s what\u00a0<\/FONT>Maol\u00a0Dhomhnaigh(IRE)<\/STRONG> (4\/1) means.\u00a0\u00a0 What a tongue twister and finger-typing BTBer reporter’s nightmare!\u00a0\u00a0 Ha!\u00a0 Trainer Itch has heard it all from this reporter before though.\u00a0*wink, wink*\u00a0 Those Irish — always raiding the editors’ secret whiskey-n-Baileys stash.\u00a0\u00a0 They can forgive the Wild Turkey, but, boy, when they see a Scottish label, look out!\u00a0\u00a0 You’ll get an earful of tense blarney before they lock themselves in the press room.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 You’d think they’d emerge a day later drunk as skunks singing songs about the Emerald Isle, but no!\u00a0 Instead, they’re\u00a0tipsy whistling sweet Dixie tunes and “Devil Goes Down to Georgia.”<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Sassy li’l unpredictable buggers.\u00a0\u00a0And, hey, they sure can talk up their ponies too.\u00a0\u00a0 Itch mysteriously dropped me a line when I last checked into the press room.\u00a0\u00a0 Ya see, he’s got Maol\u00a0Dhom-typing-fiasco as sharp as a tack in this spot.\u00a0\u00a0 He told me to\u00a0overlook the Giant’s Causeway colt’s last race — that, yes, it was a shocking fall off in form, but that he’s made adjustments.\u00a0\u00a0Here’s the skinny:\u00a0\u00a0 the colt’s gonna drop back because he doesn’t like to break too fast (which he’s been prone to do recently).\u00a0 His connections will cross their collective fingers, because the course came up firm and perhaps Maol Dhom-something-someting prefers softer going nowadays.\u00a0\u00a0 Strong Belwas is a concern, but the colt’s\u00a0in a great spot considering the short field.\u00a0\u00a0 If all goes well, he’ll hit the board.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Nellie!\u00a0\u00a0 I really like this colt and he seems so versatile from a flat mile to nine furlongs.\u00a0\u00a0 He threw a\u00a0111 SP#<\/STRONG> over 9.5f two back.\u00a0\u00a0 Itch takes this colt along so carefully…. but hard.\u00a0\u00a0 In 2007, he’s had 4 races in 7 weeks.\u00a0 Now he wheels back here on 3 weeks rest.\u00a0\u00a0 To me, that’s 5 races in 10 weeks — too much and that’s why he tanked in listed company LTO.\u00a0 \u00a0Give him the Boogity Bear<\/EM> race to get back in shape, but IMO, you should’ve backed off after the Florida Turf<\/EM>.\u00a0 ‘Maol might yet prove me wrong, but I don’t like him at all in this spot.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0I just think graded horses need more rest.\u00a0 You cna run them in a 2 or 3 race series , maybe even a 4 series close together.\u00a0\u00a0 But beyond — he’s running like a lesser level horse’s schedule.<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Just my opinion!\u00a0\u00a0 LOL!\u00a0\u00a0 Oops, better check the press room’s liquor cabinet key.\u00a0\u00a0 It’ll be gone for good after Itch read this!\u00a0 \ud83d\ude41\u00a0\u00a0Ha!\u00a0\u00a0 All in good fun, kiddo.\u00a0\u00a0 Luv ya!\u00a0\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42\u00a0 Did I say that you’re the most successful reporter in the Sim history?\u00a0\u00a0 Well, Knightmare\u00a0might be around there too, but, you’re # 1!\u00a0\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42 \ud83d\ude42 \ud83d\ude42 \ud83d\ude42\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/FONT>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Longtime player Peeps gets in on the action with his extremely talented <\/FONT>Skills In Magic<\/STRONG> (5\/1).\u00a0\u00a0 This colt’s such a gorgeous hunk.\u00a0\u00a0The Denon son was a multiple Grade 1 winner last year, including a rocketing 110 SP# score in the Coxless(G1)<\/EM> (which is a late 10f post-BB grade).\u00a0\u00a0Skill s In Magic is exciting to watch — he charges from dead last and fans go whooping and hollering\u00a0down the stretch.\u00a0\u00a0 You can’t blame the colt for finishing just\u00a03rd in the KY Horsemen Derby(G1)<\/EM> — he finished\u00a0distant in that race, but, gosh, he just had heaps of ground to make up.\u00a0\u00a0 That effort was a tesament to his class.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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After a 12f experiment in his ’07 opener, I guess Brian couldn’t find a spot for Skills And Magic and just settled on the Sand Castle Fee Duty(G1)<\/EM> over 9f.\u00a0\u00a0 ‘Magic never jumped up on the bit in that shortened race — he finished a fine 3rd in his followup though when given an extra sixteenth in the Hallelujah(G2)<\/EM>.\u00a0\u00a0 This colt’s overdue for a return trip to the winner’s circle.\u00a0\u00a0 Great spot, but will Strong Belwas set a slow pace?\u00a0\u00a0 Gooooooooooo, Brian!!!!!!!\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Wow Phillipj, an old SRF reporter!\u00a0\u00a0 Glad to see ya still in the Sim — gosh, I haven’t seen ya around.\u00a0\u00a0Hello!!!!\u00a0\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Phillipj brings Cozy Ghost<\/STRONG> (10\/1), a Cozzene colt\u00a0out of his okieslew stable.\u00a0\u00a0 Like Unpredicatably T, CozyGhost also has 29 starts under wraps.\u00a0\u00a0 This colt found his way to the stakes ranks solidly late last season.\u00a0\u00a0 He’s yet to win a listed event though.\u00a0\u00a0 Gosh, you like to see that here against this caliber of graded horses.\u00a0\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Cozy Ghost did win an ALW over 10f earlier this season with a 102 SP#.\u00a0\u00a0 He’s a true blue closer but doesn’t like to come from behind too far.\u00a0\u00a0 We’ll probably see him more in midpack here.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Finishing in the money in\u00a019 of 29 starts — very consistent little guy.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 But, in all honesty, he’s Cozy Ghost has his work cut out for him.\u00a0\u00a0 These other horses just pull in much higher speed figures.\u00a0\u00a0 With a little luck, he might rake in a minor share.\u00a0 Still, it was nice to see your name in the new “View\u00a0Player” link, Phillipj!\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42\u00a0\u00a0 Good luck!!\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Oddsmakers didn’t like the recent speed figures of Creepshow(IRE)<\/STRONG> (12\/1).\u00a0\u00a0 Tons of backclass though in this Rock Of Gibraltar(IRE) son.\u00a0\u00a0 He won his first three starts as a 3yo (including the Equinics<\/EM>) and was one to watch of course back then.\u00a0\u00a0 However, the colt finished off the board in the Sydney Derby<\/EM> in April ’06 and that took him out of the limelight.\u00a0\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Gosh, this colt’s such a mystery!\u00a0\u00a0 I can’t tell is he’s a classic case of “peaking” early on at age 3 (we see that all the time with 3yo dirt colts).\u00a0 Or if we should all be railing on Lenny for his training errors!\u00a0\u00a0 Ha!\u00a0 \ud83d\ude09\u00a0\u00a0 Don’t get me wrong — Lenny is one of the sweetest guys in the Sim (he was kind enough to send me Black Middle Flower comments — only\u00a01 of 2 players to do so last week — LOL).\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Would if that 12f Sydney Derby was just an off day?\u00a0 This horse’s PPs read like the trainer just doesn’t know his horse.\u00a0\u00a0 I can see him going for the classic Guineas.\u00a0\u00a0 But\u00a0Creepshow ran devently somewhat to Skills In Magic\u00a0in those summertime 10f races.\u00a0\u00a0 Then it looks like Lenny kind of panicked and didn’t know what to do at the end of the year, entering his colt on the dirt\u00a0and back in turf miler company.<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Creepshow’s\u00a0odds here reflect the 13 SP#\u00a0in his ’07 opener — he’s dominated short fields over 10f since, albeit with lesser 90 numbers.\u00a0\u00a0 It can go either way.\u00a0\u00a0 And odds are the “other” way.\u00a0\u00a0 But, you know, this colt’s a good one and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Creepshow in a major surprise down the lane.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Sometimes, they fire a big one and this colt’s capable of that type of big SP# out of the blue score.\u00a0\u00a0 At this point in his career, I bet that’s what Lenny’s counting on.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>
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Snowchief’s Picks<\/U>:<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Well, this article was fun to write, folks — because I know everybody!\u00a0\u00a0 Wow, how many times does that happen when you know wverybody in the race?\u00a0\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42\u00a0\u00a0 Let’s see — I’ve ripped on Lenny and Itch.\u00a0\u00a0 Said Hello to long-lost Phillipj.\u00a0\u00a0 Gave kisses to Dan.\u00a0 \u00a0Whooped and\u00a0hollered for ‘Bokie.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B-day wishes for Ted.\u00a0\u00a0 And cheered on Brian.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Ha!\u00a0\u00a0 Good luck everyone!\u00a0\u00a0 I’ll take fresh Ollie’s Gone over Skills In Magic and Strong Belwas.\u00a0\u00a0 Creepshow might spoil.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0‘Maol might play me for the fool.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Good luck!\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Win:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ollie’s Gone<\/FONT><\/DIV>
Place:\u00a0 Skills In Magic<\/FONT><\/DIV>
Show:\u00a0 Strong Belwas<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Short field for grassy 10 furlong battle-royale<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":396,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"colormag_page_container_layout":"default_layout","colormag_page_sidebar_layout":"default_layout","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4261","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-previews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4261","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/396"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4261"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4261\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4261"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4261"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4261"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}